Blog Posts

Warm Winter Soups

January is here and that means winter is sticking around at least until the early rays of spring decide to show up this year. For anyone thats looking for ways to stay warmer in the coldest part of the season, it just makes sense that this month is home to national soup month. Whether you need something to turn up your internal thermostat after a long drive home, or after a stroll around the neighborhood, these soups will get the job done. Warm Winter Soups Miso Wonton Soup Simplicity is whats behind this warm winter soup. Because when youre in need of something to warm you up, its not always ideal to spend an inordinate amount of time letting a soup simmer together. This dish saves time by using frozen cilantro wontons, baby bok choy, miso paste, scallions or carrot. But you can swap the ingredients out with vegetables you want to include instead. The recipe for this one is over here . Garden Tomato Basil There might not be a better soup to eat alongside a melted grilled cheese sandwich than tomato soup. And adding a fresh garden spin to this dish is what makes it that much more of a home runeven though baseball season is over. Head to your local organic market of choice to grab some vine ripe tomatoes and fresh basil, along with everything else youll need to bring these flavors to life. Slow Cooker Pork Ramen Cheap dorm room ramen from the bag isnt what were talking about here. But because making quality ramen at home can usually take a lot of time spent at the stove, this slow cooker solution is sent from above. Letting all that juicy pork shoulder simmer in a pot of fresh leeks and ginger with ramen noodles has our mouths watering just thinking about it. You can find what youll need for this recipe over here .

Reading Resolutions

Januaryand this time of year in generalis usually focused on the setting and keeping of exciting new resolutions. So it makes sense that national hobby month would coincide with the adventurous listmaking that can lead to newfound passions. For those that want to make more time to read, having a book club to meet with can make reading new books that much more rewarding. Below, weve outlined a few places you might find a good book club to joinor at least some suggestions for books to read this year. Reading Resolutions Kings Books For those looking for a quirky and local favorite, Kings Books is right up your alley. Featuring a homely store cat, youll have more than your fair share of book clubs to pick from here. Whether you want to read banned books, the classics, read books that feature swords and lasers, or brush up on poetry, theres something for everyone here. You can learn more about this city bookstore by visiting their website or giving them a call. The Nearsighted Narwhale You can take you desire to break into unique storytelling by paying a visit to this local-focused bookstore. Featuring books, arts, and crafts from do-it-yourself local authors and makers alike. Theres even a button-making machine in case you start your own book club and want to show it off with pride. Local readings happen here often. Theyll likely have recommendations for local book clubsor what to read if youre thinking of starting your own. You can learn more by visiting their website over here . Tacoma Book Center Tacoma Book Center is more of a straight-forward used book store. Picture the tallest and longest stacks of books you can imagine, and then double or triple that to get an idea of what this local fixture boasts. Everything from rare and out-of-print books to stories from overseas and local authors, the staff here are bound to have a good list of recommendationsand book club ideas to boot. You can learn more about their bookstore over here .

Healthy Winter Salad Ideas

January is ripe with as many resolutions as it is commitments to eat healthier throughout the year. But when youre reading through different diets, making a grocery list of salad ingredients can get old fast if there isnt some exciting variety on your day-to-day plate. With the winter-friendly salad ideas below, youll get all the ideas you need to stick with your goals to eat betterand feel betterthis year. Healthy Winter Salad Ideas Kale + Cabbage + Carrot Salad Youre already making improvements by going from iceberg lettuce to something more robust like kale. But the juxtaposition next to freshly julienned carrots, cabbage, bok choy, and a maple sesame vinaigrette dressing make this a healthy home run. Making the dressing is almost as easy as throwing together the vegetables that make up this salad. You can find what you need to make this beauty of a dish over here . Roasted Cauliflower Salad Cauliflower used to get such a bad wrap. But thats all because we didnt know that they tasted far better in soups, or roasted on top of a dark green bed of lettuce. While the recipe is a basic step-by-step for any roasted vegetable salad, arugula often pairs best with this dish. You can add in pine nuts or almonds, and use a light drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. The basic guidelines to this one are over here . Millet + Pumpkin Salad Even the name of this one sounds as seasonal as it does good for your health. And with a good mixture of butternut squash or pumpkin, avocado, beetroot leaves, chopped hazelnut, and pomegranate sides, with a lemony homemade herb dressing on top, this grainy meal is packed with tons of essential nutrients. You can find what youll need to make this one over yonder .

Local Alternative Gyms

January and the new year are here, and that brings with it the opportunity to kick off the year the way you wantwith a fresh start. For those looking for alternative ways to meet your fitness resolutions this year, and ideas to bring home to your apartment or to our on-site fitness center, you might be wondering where to begin. Heres a list of two local favorites that will help you break awayand take home some new skills to bootbelow. Local Alternative Gyms Ox Box Crossfit Crossfit gets a reputation for being intense, but the community and comradery that comes with the territory is what really drives so much of the appeal behind this workout craze. Ox Box is among the best places to give it a go, Its all about moving at your own pace and challenging your own limits. With featured personal trainers and even massage therapists, you can be confident youre learning skills you can practice at home or in our own on-site fitness center. You can learn more about their services, locations, and pricing over here . Tacoma STAR Community fitness centers are focused on being dynamic, versatile, and affordable. While specialized gyms tend to bring in those that might feel a bit more fanatic, the STAR has an approachable feel thats perfect for new resolutions. Whether you want to pick up boxing or martial arts, train for a local community race, or join their track club, theres something for everyone here. While youre there, you can even sign up for some cooking and nutrition classes to balance out your health goals for the year. You can learn more about all their programs over here . Of the two options above, which one sounds the best to you? Have you tried Tacoma STARs fitness classes or been to Ox Box Crossfit? Do you have recommendations for other local alternative fitness classes that have helped you get even more out of our on-site fitness center? Wed love to hear about it in the comments below!

Local Ice Skating Destinations

December and winter are finally herewhich means plenty of seasonal activities to take advantage of before theyre gone. And whats winter without sipping on a warm cup of hot chocolate and ice skating in your favorite lambswool sweater? For those looking for local ice skating recommendations, weve highlighted a few of our favorite options below to satisfy your amateur or professional figure eights. Local Ice Skating Destinations Tacoma Polar Plaza The Tacoma Art Museum has taken the liberty to provide the city with an outdoor skating option, access to a cafe, live music, and a lobby to warm up in when you need a break from the rink. Theyve even let some skaters view a small portion of their available art with the price of admission to their outdoor rink. You can look up special events, the price for this years tickets, and even preview the rink with their live cam to see how crowded it is over here . Sprinkler Recreation Center Though this one isnt outdoors, they make up for that with classes for those that want to brush up on their skating skills before they hit the open ice. Whether you want to get the stability of a hockey player, or the finesse and grace of a figure skater, this is the place to do it. You find information about public skate hours, classes, and the price of admission over yonder . Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena If you want to drive a little bit out of town, wed recommend making the trip to Bellevues Magic Season. Featuring free public skating lessons, later skating hours, and stroller skating for the little ones, this winter wonderland is a must. Dont forget to stop by the Garden of Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden and Snowflake Lane. You can find information about the price of admission, special events, and local features over here .

Gingerbread House Ideas

Gingerbread is as much a focal point of winter as pumpkin spice is in the fall. And though it shows up in your favorite cookies, lattes, and limited batch of ice cream, you really cant beat its utilitarian purposebeing used to build an edible gumdrop house. Since their inception, some feel that there isnt much you can do to their classic suburban home look. Alas, its time to take a look at some more modern ideas that you can use as inspiration for your own gingerbread house this year. Gingerbread House Ideas Sugar Shack This boxy and transparent modern sugar house adorns wavy layers of a gingerbread hillside, complete with shade from sugar trees behind itall held together by a traditional edible mortar. It even has a tranquil reflective pond. Youll need to measure out each slice of gingerbread in advance to recreate the layered incline. But you can find out how to make the more elaborate glass house over here . Geodesic Dome In case squares are a little too square for you, you can think outside of the box with geodesic wonder. Though it looks daunting, a little bit of template work can help you make this as easy as any gingerbread house. And its modular enough to swap out whatever ornamental candy design you envision in your cookie landscape mind. For the instructional video, and an optional DIY kit, you can head over here . Earthship Lollipop If youre looking for something a little more eco-friendly, you can give this wind turbine and rice krispy hillside-walled gingerbread house a try. Though you might need to consult with your local architect department to pull this off inch by inch, you can use this as a model for simplifying the typical wall-to-wall design of a gingerbread house. Dont be afraid to utilize other materials to add a landscape of structural security to your edible creation.